Boris Johnson plots move from meat-based diets for ‘bio-engineered burgers’ ahead of COP26

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The Prime Minister hosted an unusual question and answer (Q&A) session at Downing Street on Monday, answering children’s questions about climate change. The event was co-hosted by Tanya Steele, the Chief Executive of WWF, ahead of the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow. Boris Johnson was quizzed about a variety of topics, ranging from recycling to wildlife habitats, and was asked whether he would encourage a meat-free diet among other world leaders.

The Prime Minister asked for a show of hands to see how many children in the audience were meat-free, to which only four hands went up, one of which belonged to Ms Steele.

He then asked who in the audience ate meat, to which the remaining children all raised their hands.

Despite the clear divide in the room, Mr Johnson said scientists are already developing plant-based alternatives to meat that could very soon become the norm.

The raising of cattle is widely seen as one of the biggest sources of greenhouse gasses in the agricultural sector, with cows belching out large quantities of planet-warming methane.

Mr Johnson said: “I think in the future – I’ve got to be honest – I think in the future, we will move away from eating as much.

“I think that already science is developing meat substitutes that are basically engineered in a lab, that are very like meat and you won’t be able to tell the difference between a bio-engineered hamburger and – I’m serious – and a real hamburger.

“And that will be the future very soon. I mean it’s already here, I think.”

Ms Steele added: “It is, definitely, and I think there’s also things we can do to mix up our meals.

“Maybe less meat and put some beans in. It can still be very tasty but great for our climate.”

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One of the children also asked the Prime Minister whether scientists could develop a pill that will reduce cows’ greenhouse emissions.

He replied: “I honestly don’t know but we’re making progress in breeding cows that burp less, I’m told, which is more polite cows.”

He then suggested cows could be fed diets of yoghurt and seaweed, which scientists have proposed as a means of reducing their methane emissions.

According to the University of California, Davis, a single cow releases up to 220 pounds of methane every single year.

Although the greenhouse gas is shorter-lived than carbon dioxide (CO2), it is about 28 times more potent at warming the atmosphere.

However, not all scientists subscribe to the idea that cutting meat out of our diets will save the planet.

According to Frank Mitloehner at the UC Davis Department of Animal Science,

In the US, for instance, cows and other ruminants are only responsible for about four percent of the country’s greenhouse emissions.

And beef cattle only account for about two percent of direct emissions.

Three years ago, Professor Mitloehner penned an article for The Conversation in which he argued against the widespread adoption of plant-based diets as a means of saving the climate.

He said: “In my view, there are many reasons for either choosing animal protein or opting for a vegetarian selection.

“However, foregoing meat and meat products is not the environmental panacea many would have us believe.

“And if taken to an extreme, it also could have harmful nutritional consequences.”

Following the Downing Street Q&A, Ms Steele said it is vital young people have their voices heard “loud and clear” in the days preceding the COP26 summit.

Tens of thousands of people are expected to descend on Glasgow for the event, which will set the international agenda for fighting the climate crisis.

The WWF chief said: “As the UK hosts the all-important climate summit in Glasgow, the Prime Minister has an opportunity – and a responsibility – to show global green leadership and to live up to the Government’s climate promises.

“We are in a critical decade for the planet: future generations will not forget and they will not forgive if we fail to act to address these threats while there’s still time.”

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